Current Affairs One - Liner : 2nd & 3rd June 2024

• National:
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) jointly developed a new logo, “Unified India Organic”, on May 31, 2024. This logo will replace the existing India Organic and Jaivik Bharat logos and aims to bring uniformity in the implementation of Indian regulations by NPOP and FSSAI.

• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) signed a 30-year concession agreement on May 31, 2024, to operate Container Terminal 2 (CT2) at Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania. The agreement was signed by Adani International Ports Holdings Pte Ltd. (AIPH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of APSEZ.
• Ruchira Kamboj, the first female UN Ambassador from India, has retired after a 35-year career in the Indian Foreign Service. She held several key positions, including the Indian envoy in Bhutan, South Africa, and UNESCO, and was India’s Chief of Protocol. Her retirement was announced on June 1.
• Gautam Adani, with a net worth of $111 billion, has overtaken Mukesh Ambani, who has a net worth of $109 billion, to become the richest person in Asia. The surge in Adani’s wealth is due to the rise in the stock prices of his companies and their aggressive expansion plans.
• Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on his 39th birthday, June 1, 2024. His last matches were the IPL 2024 Eliminator for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the 2022 T20 World Cup group game for India. He announced his retirement via Instagram.
• The Indian government has increased the gratuity limit for central government employees by 25%. This came into effect from January 1, 2024. The maximum limit for Retirement Gratuity and Death Gratuity has been raised from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. This increase was triggered by a rise in the Dearness Allowance (DA) by 4% to 50%.
• Banking:
• LIC has increased its stake in PI Industries from 4.95% to 5% by acquiring 72,000 shares from the open market. The shares were bought at an average cost of ₹3,558.29 each. This move is seen as a strategic investment by LIC. PI Industries is a leading agrochemicals firm with a market capitalisation of ₹53,488.98 crore.
• Economy:
• The Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue for May 2024 was announced on June 1, 2024. The revenue stood at Rs 1.73 lakh crore, representing a 10% year-on-year growth. This increase was driven by a 15.3% rise in domestic transactions and a 4.3% decrease in imports.
• Science & Technology:
• On May 30, 2024, Pakistan’s multi-mission communication satellite, PAKSAT-MM1, was launched from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center. This satellite will provide high-speed internet facilities across Pakistan, contributing to socioeconomic uplift and national development.
• China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe landed on the far side of the Moon in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on June 2, 2024. It began its return journey to Earth on June 4, 2024, carrying the first-ever samples from this region. The probe is expected to arrive back on Earth around June 25, 2024.
• Researchers at the Institute of Advanced Virology in Thiruvananthapuram have created safe, non-infectious versions of the Nipah virus in the lab. This development will facilitate safer research and aid in the creation of vaccines and treatments for the virus. The findings were published in the journal Heliyon on May 24, 2024.
• On May 31, 2024, Wipro 3D and ISRO announced their collaboration in Bangalore, India. They successfully manufactured a 3D-printed PS4 rocket engine for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), marking a significant milestone in space technology and additive manufacturing.
• Sports:
• Real Madrid won their 15th Champions League title on June 1, 2024, at Wembley Stadium, London. They defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 with goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr. This victory marks a successful season for Real Madrid under the guidance of their coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
• Indian athletes won seven medals at the Taiwan Athletics Open 2024 held in Taipei City, Taiwan from June 1st to 2nd, 2024. The medal tally included three golds, three silvers, and one bronze. Notable performances were from DP Manu (gold in men’s javelin throw), Nayana James (gold in women’s long jump), and Ankesh Chaudhary (gold in men’s 800m).
• Important Days:
• On June 2, 2024, Italy celebrated its 78th Republic Day. President Sergio Mattarella laid a laurel wreath at the Altare della Patria in Rome and called for unity in Italy and across Europe. The day was marked by a parade and a jet fly-over with smoke trailing the colors of the Italian flag.
• Appointments:
• Claudia Sheinbaum, a 61-year-old former mayor of Mexico City and a climate scientist, was elected as Mexico’s first female president on June 2, 2024. She will begin her six-year term on October 1, 2024.
• Badminton star PV Sindhu was appointed as the brand ambassador for Tobacco Control by the Union Health Ministry on June 2, 2024. She will work on campaigns to protect the youth from the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.
• Obituaries:
• Renowned puppeteer and Padma Shri awardee, Maguni Charan Kuanr, passed away on June 1, 2024. He was 88 years old and was known for his significant contributions to the art of rod puppetry in Odisha. His demise is a great loss to the world of art and culture.

Questions:

1. What was the GST revenue for May 2024?

• A) Rs 1.63 lakh crore
• B) Rs 1.73 lakh crore
• C) Rs 1.83 lakh crore
• D) Rs 1.93 lakh crore

Answer: B) The Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue for May 2024 was announced on June 1, 2024. The revenue stood at Rs 1.73 lakh crore, representing a 10% year-on-year growth.

2. By what percentage has the Indian government increased the gratuity limit for central government employees?

• A) 15%
• B) 20%
• C) 25%
• D) 30%

Answer: C) The Indian government has increased the gratuity limit for central government employees by 25%. This came into effect from January 1, 2024.